Authentication / authorization without a password

Abstract

A method for authenticating a user on the electronic computing device includes receiving a request to authenticate the user. First data is received from the electronic computing device. The first data comprises selections of the user of a plurality of locations from a picture displayed on the electronic computing device. The first data also comprises force data representing forces applied by the user when making the selections. The first data is compared with second data. A determination is made as to whether aspects of the first data correspond to aspects of the second data. When the aspects of the first data correspond to the aspects of the second data, the user is authenticated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method implemented on an electronic computing device for authenticating a user on the electronic computing device, the method comprising:
 receiving a request to authenticate the user; 
 receiving data from a plurality of locations on the electronic computing device, the data for each of the plurality of locations including coordinates of each of the plurality of locations and an amount of heat generated from a selection of each of the plurality of locations; 
 defining a pixel area for each of the plurality of locations, each pixel defining a respective location; 
 identifying a specific percentage of each pixel area that must be covered by a finger impression in order to confirm a selection of a location; 
 comparing the data for each of the plurality of locations with corresponding pre-authorization data for each of the plurality of locations; and 
 when the coordinates of each of the plurality of locations correspond to coordinates from the pre-authorization data, when the data indicates that a percentage of pixel area coverage for each location exceeds the specific percentage of each pixel area that must be covered by the finger impression, and when the heat generated from the selection of each of the plurality of locations correspond to heat generated for the locations from the pre-authorization data, authenticating the user for login to the electronic computing device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data from the plurality of locations on the electronic computing device includes a contact force of depressions made on a display screen of the electronic computing device at each of the plurality of locations. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein each contact force corresponds to a depth of a depression made at each location. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein before authenticating the user for login to the electronic computing device, further comprising:
 determining whether the contact force at each of the locations matches corresponding contact forces generated for the locations of the pre-authorization data; and 
 when a determination is made that the contact force at each of the locations matches corresponding contact forces generated for the locations of the pre-authorization data, when the coordinates of each of the plurality of locations match corresponding coordinates from the pre-authorization data and when the heat generated from the selection of each of the plurality of locations matches corresponding heat generated for the locations from the pre-authorization data, authenticating the user for login to the electronic computing device. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat generated for each selection is generated by a finger of the user depressing against a touch screen of the electronic computing device. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat generated for each selection is generated by a physical object depressing against a touch screen of the electronic computing device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein before receiving data from the plurality of locations on the electronic computing device, displaying a picture on the electronic computing device and wherein the plurality of locations correspond to locations on the picture. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the locations of the pre-authorization data corresponds to locations on the picture. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the coordinates for each of the plurality of locations match corresponding coordinates from the pre-authorization data comprises determining whether any of the pixels in a pixel area for a coordinate from the data match any of the pixels in a pixel area for a corresponding coordinate from the pre-authorization data.